A splendid banquet awaited the guests in Bessy's lodgings. The table was already spread.
When the happy husband had conducted his darling yoke-fellow into the midst of us, he, without more ado, flung himself on the sofa, and, hiding his face in the palms of both hands, began to weep bitterly. Such a wonder as that is surely not to be seen for either love or money! That a bridegroom should weep fit to break his heart immediately after the marriage ceremony, and bewail the loss of his bachelordom in floods of bitter tears!
The two ladies, however, took him in hand between them, and began to entreat and console him, but he could not stifle this outburst of feeling. The major also reassured him very prettily: "Come, come, my dear friend, you need not take it so tragically. Look at me now! I've been through it all! Look how well I get on with my domestic dragon!" This, however, was poor balm to him in his great affliction. At last the major fairly lost his temper. "A thousand Turkish skulls! What's this, lieutenant? Do you wish to regale us with a specimen of the higher morality? Bombs and grenades! Embrace your wife, sir, immediately!"
Bessy looked at me as if she were on the point of weeping. I pitied her from the bottom of my heart.
"Mr. Lieutenant," I said, "have you ever learnt English?"
The newly-married husband was amazed.
"Yes," said he.
"From Ollendorf's grammar?"
"Yes."
"Do you recollect exercise No. 2: 'Why does the Captain weep?—Because the Englishman has no bread.'—Well, then, let us give the Englishman some bread."